Government troops on Friday killed a suspected liaison officer of the Islamic State (IS) terror group in a clash in Patikul town in Sulu province, the Army reported on Saturday.
Major Gen. Corleto Vinluan Jr., commander of the Joint Task Force Sulu, confirmed the death of Talha Jumsah, also known as 鈥淎bu Talha,鈥� an alleged IS liaison to the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG).
The ASG rebels supposedly clashed with soldiers from the Army鈥檚 1st Scout Ranger Battalion in the sub-village of Tubig Amu in Barangay Tanum, around 7:15 a.m. on Friday.
Vinluan said Abu Talha is a 鈥渉igh-value target鈥� of the military in Sulu.
He is reportedly an IS-trained improvised explosive device expert who served as an instructor to the ASG in the fabrication of 鈥渕ore lethal and destructive鈥� bombs, according to the military.
Abu Talha鈥檚 cadaver was reportedly recovered in follow-up operations by elements of the Army鈥檚 1101st Infantry Brigade at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, about 800 meters from the clash site.